Elastic-fluid turbine.



G. G. CURTIS. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLICATION IILBI) JAN. 19. 1398.

985,885. Patented Mar. 7 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' INVENTOR': C4, 4 By his Atzomgy E1 mm T v mm 1 F Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

L AAANAAAAAAAA vvvvwwvvvvvv NZ AA 0. G. CURTIS.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION IILED-JAN.19,1898.

985,885, 8 Patented M21117, 1911.

5 BHEETS-SHEET 3.

x k i C. GFGURTIS. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED nume. 1898.

985,885, 1 Patented Mar; 7, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: 8 46 Patnted M21117, 1911.

5' SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' NVENTOR1 a. 1. CURTIS. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLICATION I'ILBI) JAN. 19. 1.898.

' assess.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enemas. G, cum-1s, ornnw YORK. Assmnos, B MESNE assrezmears, T

GENERAL ELECTRIC COIHPANYZ A CORP-QRATION OF NEW YORK I ELASTICPFLUID TURBINE- lkppljcation filed January 19, 1898. Serial No. 667,144.

To all whomit jmay concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES 'G. Ct'nrIs,

a citizen of the United States, residing a .Kew York city, in the county and State of New York, have in'gented. a certain new and useful Improvement in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification,

Theobjee't I have in-vie'w is to produce an apparatus for converting the energy of steam or other elastic fluid into mechanical rotation, with a greater efficiency than has heretofore been obtained. A

An elastic fluid may contain energy in the form of pressure or of m's viva, and under proper conditions may be delivered to a turbine wheel by a nozzle as a stream With any desired portion of its original energy converted into vis viva, within cer tain limits. If the flow of the steam through the working passage of the turbine is accompanied by a stress upon surfaces thereof properly arranged and designed, mechanical rotation of the apparatus-and utilization of the fluids energy will be had. Heretofore this result has been attained by making the movable elements of the work mg passage in the form of a-eurve concave toward the direction of rotation, and the centrifugal force of the particles (as the direction of their flow has thereby been changed) has been relied upon to cause the desired rotative stress or driving effort. In water turbines this method of utilizing the tie rivaof the stream is very satisfactory, the power developed on the shaft being a very large percentage of the amount which theory would indicate as possible in view of the angles, velocities, etc., while in steam orother elastidfluid turbines a much smaller percentage of the corresponding amount has heretofore been obtained. This is believed to be due in part atleast, to the currentmisconception that an elastiofluid Speeification of Letters l atent.

PatentedMar- 't'i 1191 bine should not be a much more eflicient utilizer of steam energy than a reciprocat mg engine. -One reason, at least, for the failure to obtain the very greatly improved economy referred to, is beliei'ed to'be due to the failure heretofore to provide for the Steam or elastic .fiuid, a working passage adapted to the-nature of the filllt,

An incompressible fluid, entering a curved vane passage at any given velocity, flows through it i'n'a stream of uniform density, and sweeping around its curve under like conditions, will maintain a stress upon the,

concave walls, each layer of particles pressing upon but not compressing the layer adacent to. it toward the concavity, and will issue therefrom in a solid stream of uniform and unchanged density (except as friction ma cause eddies), but ata reduced absolute vel bcity. An elastic-fluid entering such a passage at an enormously higher velocity and undergoing a change of direction of flow, will exert a stress by centrifugal force at the points of change, but as the fluid is compressible, the stress of each layer of fluid upon thelayer adjacent to it will compress the latter, and the density of the stream will no longer be uniform over any given cross-section. It will be greater at the concave surface where the rotativej stress is exerted on the wall of the passage, and least at the edge of the stream farthest removed t-herefroni. An analysis of this phenomenon of centrifugal compression shows that the compression can only be obtained by a conversion of via viva into pressure; or in other words, by a sacrifice of the velocity of flow and under conditions such as would 'be found in ractical cases, the energy thus transforme into pressure is a very considerable portion of the total energy in. the fluid. These facts have not been appreciated} heretofore, and the buckets or vane passages of elastic fluid turbines have been heretofore designed to operate'on the same general princi les in this respect as those of water turbines. This is a serious, mistake since the m's oiva thus necessarily converted. into pressure may readily -be w'astedby reelxpansion of the fluid under conditions not adapted to insure the due restoration of via mI-oa'and unless the due restoration of 2:58 viva and utilization thereof is'had, the efficiency of the turbine isunnecessarily reduced. 4

"bine practice has from this. point of view -passage, and-the compression thus localized peculiar-advantages. 'The centrifugal stress causing rotation all upon one side'of-the .sure and the'due restoration of his viva thereafter is, if not impossible, at least, at

tended .with un necessary difliculty. The tendency to eddy currents and frictional retardation is alsogreat, and the unnecessarily' large variation in density over any given cross-sectional area complexities the whole problem.

I have devised a new principle of bucketaction applicable to; an elastic fluid whereby a stream of such fluid may be used in a working passageso as-to exert a rotative stress uponmoving surfaces forming part ofsuch passage, and in such a way as to largely conserve the energy whlch the maintenance of this stress converts into pressure, and make it available for use thereafter. I have found that the energy of an elastic j fluid entering at a given velocity a converging sided passage, or one having a gradually diminishing cross-sectional area-,will undergo conversion from his vi rainto pressure without substantial choking (or change in the quantity flowing per second), provided the contraction of the passage is not too great, and the, fluid will be .found at the' successive cross se'ctionsat the pressures, volumes and velocities corresponding to such conversion.

If such a passage is free to move in-the direction of the flow of the fluid, the stress 'upon the converging walls will drive it forward. This principle of bucket action may be superimposed upon the old principle of such action by centrifugal force on a curve,

'butjin its more simple or elementary form, it consists in delivering the stream of flulds,

- (preferably at a high velocity and low pressure) into a movable vane element, forming the whole or a part, of the working passage,

is that of the fluid-s direction of flow. 51- more of the walls of this portiomhow- 5Q and whose-axial line in its anterior portion ever, com-'erge, decreasing the cross-seetional area in'the direction of flow to a minimum cross-section suflicient to. carry the fluid, without choking,'at the volume and the ve-- locity corresponding to a pressure equal to f that which the virtual 'vis 'vz'oa is capable of causing-insuch a passage without substan-, 'tial-interrupti-on of flow. In this convergwing anterior portion the 112's m'oz with which fs .the fluid entered t he passage is largely, re-

---eonverted into pressure, its passage'from point to point being attended by progressive decline in velocity and increas'e'in pressure.

The axial line of this anterior portion of the movableelement being at anacute angle to the direction of rotation, any stress exertedisgreat, while the conservation of thi's'presupon the converging surfaces thereof will tend to rotate the apparatus. The fluid, de-

livered in this way to the passage,.-impinges volumes and pressures atthe. several points.

The fluid might issue from the movable element into the exhaust, or i'nto'a stationary element at this point, but this is notthe preferable plan, nor would the Whole principle of bucket action thus be shown. Re-

garding the description so far as relating to the bucket action in the anterior portion of the movable element, what, follows relates to the bucket action in the middle and posterior portion of the movable element.

The fluid enters the, middle portion through the funnel throat .of the anterior portion under a desired pressure (but not exceeding the maximum as indicated) and at a corresponding velocity-and volume, the velocity being however relatively low in any case The middle portion may be either a curved passage adapted to turn the stream through thedesired change of angle'at arelatively low velocity, subjected tova relatively small centrifugal compression, frictional retardation, and eddy currents, or the stream may enter an enlarged chamber, in which substantially all of its remaining rz's 'vz'va will be converted into pressure. In either case the outlet for the fluid, whether from such curved portion or from such enlarged chamber, will be through a posterior portion of the movable element whose first cross-sectional area will be such as to carry the fluid or permit its escape at the pressure, volume and velocity there existing; This posterior portion will preferably have walls diverging in the direction of flow. and

an axial angle as obtuse as possible to. the plane of rotation, and at any rate such as that the largestcross-sectional area of the posterior portion shall be" in the general direction opposite to that of rotation. In this posterior portion of the movable element the fluid will expand and have its remaining energy converted into :vz's' viva to the extent'permitted by the increase of crosssectionalarea of the passage, its flow from point .to point being accompanied by a psogressive increase of velocityand decline 'in pressure As inthe anterior portion, so in this posterior portion the stress upon surfaces convergingtoward the dlrectlon ofrotation will be a rotative stress whereby the cnergyot' the fluid will be converted into mechanical po\ver. -'hile I prefcrto'produccjthe niaxinun'n conversion of cis viva into pressureniuuthe anterior. portion ofjthe vane, space, any degree of such ('OHVQISIUIY- is :ulvantageous, and is within the-scope of my present n'ventiom. At. the discharge end of this posterior portion of the movable clen'ient. the fluid,v shouldpreferably be at companied by compression, eddy currents,'

frictional retardatiomietcg, it is as importantto conserve the energythus necessarily converted from'ois vimz' into pressure, and to reconvert 1t. mto era-mica under conditions .insurmg due. lGSiOI'tltlQ'Il' thereof inthe sta- 'tionary as in the movable elements.

It will be'observedltha-t the principleof bucket action thus described may be combined with the older and'usual one, by pro- .viding in the anterior'portion a concave surface together with'lthe other converging.

surfaces, and such a mode of operation may giveimproved efliciency as compared with the usual method. The density of the fluid willbe more uniform, and the energy converted into pressure by centrifugal eompres- 40 sion will be more largely conserved and utilized after due 1estoration of m's viva had. In combiningt he two methods as above, it will be desirable to have the greater amount of change of' direction take place 4 after the velocity of the stream has been very considerably reduced in such a con- .tracting portion of the vane passage, as is indicated above. I do not intend to limit the scope of my invention in this respect,

5 however.

Referring now to the more simple or elementary form of the new principle of bucket action above described. and to the movable element as a whole (comprising anterior,

middle and posterior portions). the stress of the fluid upon the surfaces of the passage at various Joints may be favorable orunfavorable to its rotatioinor neutral. A substantial Apreponderance of stress favorable tit-rotation ;isobtained. however, and

willin exerted upon an area of surface in thedirection of rotation greater than that of the backwall, so that even if the maximumpressure-which can' be had at any point therein were assumed to exist at all points, a portion of the energy of the fluid would be utilized therein. The fact that zonesof graduallyincreasing pressure inust be found near 'thildischarge end of the anterior portion, and'zones of gradually diminishing pressure must be found near the delivery end of the posterior portion of the passage respectively, if the fluids flow is to continue without choking, (that is to say, withoutchange in the quantity flowing per second) insures a greater utilization of energy than would be found under conditions assumed in the preceding sentence.

' The principle of bucket action herein described is notapplicable to incompressible fluid turbines. If the attempt were'made to operate such a turbine as is herein described with an inelastic, incompressible fluid, such as water. the action of the fluid in it would be essentially different from that of an elastic fluid. Water entering aproperly designed contracting passage under a. givenvelocity, will reach a maximum velocity at the pointof greatest contraction, and this velocity will be that due to its hydrostatic head. Such .a passage will choke the flow, (that is to say, reduce the quantity flowing per second) if the fluid enters it at this maximum velocity due to'its head, and after this choking has established a reduced rate of flow, it will be found that at the orifice, or receiving end of the contracting passage, the velocity of the stream 'is less and its hydrostatic head greater, while as the contracted end is approached the hydrostatic head decreases and the velocity increases. On the contrary, with an elastic fluid I have found that .the effectof contraction of the passage, if not carried too far, ,will be to convert ois viva into pressure without causing any choking (that is to say, reduction of quantity flowing per second). The fact stated above as to the action of water flowing through a contracting passage has been well-known and has been relied on in the design and construction of water turbine nozzles, wherein a velocity of dischargeequal to that due to .the hydrostatic head is desired.

versibility of the action with water has also been understood, as shown in the discharge ends of injectors delivering a str am of feed water to a boiler wherein a pressure is maintaincd. I have found that the action of an elastic thud in such a passage is entirely (hffercnt as has-been shown, and the function of such a passage'in an elastic fluid turbine. is also different.

' ,In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereo f,'Figure 1 is a. viewillustrating thcaction of the elastic-fluid in passing The rea different arrangement of the top and bot;

.5 isa horizontal section of my improved-i the'ce'ntral line of one of the vane spaces of Fig. 7 is a horizontal section showing another form of my improved buckets, In

through a movable vane space of the form "the top and bottom walls of one of the vane heretofore employed. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section illustrating two vane spaces cm-Z ;.bod -'-ing'1nypresent invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the central line-of j .one of the vane spaces of Fig. '2 showing" slightly diverging 1 top and bottomwalls Fig. 4 1s asectlon similar to Fig.- 3, SllOWlIllgi' tom wallsi of the vane spaces of Fig. 2. Fig.5

buckets, illustratingthe same general form' as lin-Fig. 2 but having the osterior p01 tions of the vane spaces place at a greater angle. Fig. 6 is a' vertical section through Fig.'5,illustrating a parallel disposition of the top and bottom walls of the vane space.

which the middle portion is not in the form of an enlargedreservoir. I Fig. 8 1s a vertical same generalform as those of Fig. That,

.fied form, and'adapt'edto a relatively-highbucket velocity as com ared to the velocity ofthe fluid. Fig. 20 1s a view illustrating eral character of those of Fig. 7 but of un-.

.-is, a view similar to that of Fig. 13, but with turbine in which the posterior portions of the first set of movable buckets are of 11mnozzle and with the buckets or vane spaces with a greater angle in the posterior 'portions of the vane spaces, as in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the central line of one of the vane spaces of Fig. 9,. illustrating the parallel disposition of the top and bottom walls. Fig. 11 is a hori zontal section showing buckets of the gensymmetrical form. Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the central line of one of the vane spaces of Fig. 11. Fig. 13is a horizontal development of the nozzle, and a part of the =buckets of a turbine having two sets of movable buckets andone set of intermediate stationary buckets involving myinvention. Fig. '14 is a view illustrating the top and bottom walls of-one line of vane spaces in the. turbine of Fig. 131 Fi .15

the nozzle omitted, illustrating a compound form cross-sectional area so as to maintain the pressure up to the point of discharge. Fig. 16 is a view illustrating the top and bottom walls of one line of vane spaces in the turbine of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 1.3, illustrating a more complete conversion of the pressure in the delivery correspondingly proportioned. Fig. 18 is a view illustratingthe top and bottom walls through one line of vane spacespf Fig. 17.

two of myimproved vanespaces of a modi spaces of Fig. 19.. Fig.- 21 is a view illustratlug the application of my improved I vane-spaces to the caseof at'urbine comprising two sets of buckets moving'fjin opposite directions, theifirst set of buckets discharging directly into the second setjof buckets. Fig. 22 is a top :view of a portion. of the turbine wheel partly brokenaway to illustrate two of the vane spaces; and-showing a :method of construction by which -my -i nproved vane space's'can be cheaply mid et fectlvely constructed. Fig. 2315 a vertical section on the line 23-23 of-Fig. 22, looking in the directionof the arrows crossing that line. Fig. 24 is a View of the inner face of the ring'car'rying the forwardlyprojecting portions ofthe vane spaces, the opening .to onevane space being shown and the vane space itselfbeing developed indotted. Fig. 24 represents a--'modified form.

lines. of the figures shownin -Figs. 23 and 2%, showing in sectionv one of-the vanejspace's in one of the rings. ,Fig. 24* is a section through the throat "iof the portion of vane space shown in Fig-524 illustrating a round v throat of a :diameter equal-to the depth of the vane space, andthe dotted lines showing the rectangular form atthe other end of the vane space;v F igs; 25, 26 and 27 are views illustrating the principle of my invention as applied to a bucket of the present centrifugal type. I

.. .l-tet'erring particularly to Fig. l, A A representnrovable turbine buckets of the usual term, thecurvcd vane space'between them having the same cross-sectional area throughout its length. The dotted line a 5 represents by; its directioirand length, the

angle of delivery of the elastic fluid jet to the vane. space and its velocity. The vane space itself, however, travels a distance represented by the line. a b, and hence the line a 0 indicates the angle at which the jet enters-the vane space and its virtual velocity in the vane space. vThe wall of the vane. space as faras (Z is parallel to a c. The

dots are intended to-illustrate the fact that the column of fluid enterlng the vane space at a high velocity and uniform density, un-

dergoes centrifugal compression as it sweeps around the concave wall a and isno direction of fiowandconverts to a greater or less-extent the ads aim; of the elastic fluldinto pressure, the degree of conversion being determined by the size of the'contracted inner end or throat-g of this portion. The

posterior portion h of the vane spacehas an enlarging cross-sectional area, due tether} verge.

, is 'givento the posteriorportion of the vaneder. conditions whichinsure the due restoration of 'm's view in the posterior portion. The relation between the cross-section at g and: a must be such as not to cause choking or interruption of flow, having regard to the pressures, volumes and velocities there existing, and to the utilized and wasted energy. The stress uponthe converging side walls of. the anterior portion f of the vane space, tends to drive the buckets forward and a. similar eflect is produced by the.

stress upon the diverging walls of the pos-' terior portlon h of the vane space. In order to obtain desired cross-sectional area at the throat z' as compared with that of throat 9, whether equal, greater or less, the

top and bottom walls of the vane space may dl\'1 e more or less as lllustrated in Figs. 3 an 4, or'th'ey maybe parallel, or con- In Fig. 5 a form of bucket similar to that of Fig. 2 is illustrated, but an enlargement of the throat/i is secured by giving the posterior portion of 1.the=r .vane space a, greater angle, in .which case the to and bottom 'walls of the vanespiice may e parallel, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 7 the portions f and h of the vane space converge and diverge, as in the form of vane space illustrated in Fig. 2, but the curved middle portion J of the vane space is not enlarged in the form! of a reservoir, but has a cross-sectional area gradually enlarging between the throats g and i which it connects. \Vith this construction the fluid enters the middle portion (wherein .it undergoes a change of direction and centrifugal compression) with a substantiallyuniform density and 'ata very much reduced velocity by reason of its passage. through the anterior portion, and as cen trifugal compression is as the square of the velocity, the density of the fluid at 2' will be more uniform and its remaining energy will be more surely utilized thereafter than would otherwise be the case. This reduced velocity also results in a very much reduced tendency to eddy currentsand frictional retardation. Vith such a constructionjas is shown in Fig. 7, the top and bottom walls of the vane space'may diverge as illustrated'in Fig. 8, orif it greater angle space, as is illustrated inlFig. 9, the top and bottom Walls may be parallel, ilS'SlIOWll by 'Fig. 10. Any desired variation inthe crosssection of the passage from; point to point may be obtained either by varying the angle of the anterior and posterior portions, or

by varying the depth or vertical dimension at such points. I have shown in these-fig .ures a cross-sectional .ar'ea at the throat i greater than at the throat g, but it may be desirable under certain conditions to have the throat i of smaller or eoual cross-section with reference to thet-hroat g.

In Fig-11 a form of bucket similar to that .of Fig. 7 is illustrated, but in this figure thevane space is made'unsymmetrical, the

posterior portion of the vane spacehaving a more obtuse angle than the receiving portion. Itis desirable, of course, to discharge the fluid-as nearly parallel to the plane of, rotation as possible, for the stress upon the diverging walls of the posterior section thus gives a larger component in the direction of rotation. A greater speed of the buckets relative to the speed of the elastic fluid is also illustrated by dotted lines forming a. triangle. The unsymmetrical form of the buckets adapts the turbine for a reversal of its action, 2 e. for runnin it backward with power applied to its shai twhen it may be used for compressing an elastic fluid, such as air. To give the throat i a greater cross-f sectional area than the throat g, the to and bottom walls of the vane space may verged, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a compound turblue having two sets'of movable buckets B and C mounted upon the same shaft and rotating in the same direction, and a set 01 intermediate stationary buckets D. Vane spaces with the central reservoir K, and others with curved midd1e portions Z, are illustrated both in the movable and sta-. tionary vanes, to show that either form of construction may be employed. The delivery nozzle E is one having divergingwalls so as to convert a considerable amount of pressure into ris aim. The figure is intended to illustrate a delivery nozzle which does not produce a maximum conversion of pressure into m's viva, the remaining pressure being converted .intd'm'aira'va in the vane spaces of theturbine. Since the vane'spaces of each setas shownin Fig. 13 have the same angle at their receiving and discharging ends, enlargement of cross-sectional area at various points may be had by varying the vertical dimension or bucket depth, and this may be had by a divergence of the top and bottom walls of the vane spaces, as illustratedin Fig, 14:.

My improved buckets are applicable to compound turbines having any number of movable orstationary elements, or to such turbines of the jettype in which the fluid 1s passed through thesame set of buckets two ormore times in succession, or to turbines of the outwardand 1 inward flow types, orany I other types.

In Figs. and 16 there is'illustrated a of the first set of movable vane spaces have the same cross-sectional area throughout buckets.

the actual movement of their length, so that the pressure producedby the converging anterior portions 0% the vanespaces is conserved and the elastic nuid is dischargedunder this pressure into. the stationary intermediate'vane spaces which have parallel walls in. their receiving portions. and have their discharging portions provided with walls having a sufiicient angle. of divergence to convert the ressure wholly or largely into. ms viva be ore the elastic fluid is discharged into the vane spaces of the second movable set of buckets. This fea; ture of substantially maintaining the same pressure in all parts of the posterior portion, may also be employed where the vane space is provided with an enlargement or reservoir at its central portion. I do not consider the construction illustrated inFigs.

15 and 16 as eflective as that in which there is a reconvei'sion of pressure mto m's viva in the posterior portions of the movable 'ane spaces. but it illustrates one of the w: ys o applying my invention.

1n Figs. 17 and 18 there is illustrated a turbine similar to that of Fig. 13, in which,

however, the delivery nozzle is proportionedto convert all or practically all of the pressure into rz's rim and the buckets are given a progressively greater angle so as to provide throats of progressively greater size and take care of the reduced velocity of the elastic fluid relative to the speed of the buckets, and provision is made for giving increased cross-sectional areas at various points through the working passage so as to provide for the reduction in the velocity of flow caused by the action in the moving In Fig. 19 vane spaces are illustrated hav ing a central reservoir and unsymmetrical in form in that the posterior portions ofthe vane spaces have a sharper or less angle than the receiving portions. Such an apparatus is adapted for reversal for the compression of air or other ela'stic fluid. This figure also illustrates a curving of the converging and diverging front and rear walls of the recei'v' 1g and discharging portions of the vane passage so as to correspond with the steam particles in the vane spaces relative to the movenint of the vane spaces themselves, this complex action being analyzed by the diagram shown in dotted lines. The elastic fluid enters-the vane space with the velocity m 0. The 'elocity of the bucket is m! 12 Therefore a o'- -represents the virtual angle at-which the fluid enters the vane space. \Vhile the fluid passes through the anterior portion of the passage its velocity becomes reduced and trated by this figure when it reaches the throat 9 its velocity, for example, will be represented by the length m g. The virtual angle offlow will therefore be represented by the is parallel to the. axis of the throat 9. Between the receiving end of the anterior por" tion and its throat the virtual angle of inflow will'gradually change so that the true theoretical shape of this portion should be more or less curved, depending upon the change in velocity of the fluidproduced by the contracting passage, and also upon the relative velocities of the fluid and that of the movable buckets. Similarly the posterior portions should theoretically be given a curved form, as shown in Fig. 19', the change of direction being worked out on similar principles. The construction'illus may be usedwithout the centralreservoir 7c and with the curved middle portion of the vane space having parallel front and rear walls. It can also be used with a construction wherein the posterior portion of the vane space has parallel front and rear walls. Due to the sharper or less angle of the posterior portions of the vane spaces, a considerable increase in the depth orvertical dimension in the middle portions of the vane spaces is necessary, as, illustrated in Fig. ..O, in order that the throat a" shall haye the necessary cross-sectional area relative to that of the throat g.

The principles herein described I have also applied to the operation ofcompressing air or other elastic fluid. orimparting a velocity to a body of. such fluid. with the same relative improvement in effieip'ncy as compared with the apparatus described in my pending application Serial No. 601,60G,filed A11gust4,1896. By rotating a series of buckets, employing the principles herein shown, in the direction opposite to that in'which it would turn if used as a motor and at a proper speed relative to the amount of compression or the velocity of flow which it is desired to obtain, the effect of these buckets will be todraw the air or other elastic fluid into their anterior portions, producing compression of the fluid therein bythe gradually diminishing cross-section of these portions and then while such fluid is under increased pressure and reduced velocity, changing its direction ,of flow as desired and delivering it eitherby means of parallel or diverging walled posterior portions which serve to convert pressure into velocity, to the stationary or receiving portions of the apparatus wherein the m's viva may either be preserved as line 4:. g which velocity or converted into the required 'pressure as desired.

In Fig. 21 two turbine wheels 11 and G are illustrated rotating in opposite direc' tions, the vane spaces of the wheelF'discharging directly into the vane spaces of is illustrated. H and I are two steel ringswhich are riveted together and may be mounted upon any portion of the turbine 10, wheel, for example, the, disk K or one seetion of it, by means of the flanges r and 8. These steel rings are cut with suitable tools so as to form the vane spaces, one part of the vane spaces being formed in each ring and the vane spaces being completed by the joining of the rings. Vith this construction the central reservoir is, when employed, may

be formed partly by radial enlargement of the passage. The construction avoids the 20 necessity for the use of outer and inner rings between which the buckets are secured, as employed by me in former constructions. In .Fig. 24 only one of the openings through the ring H is illustrated in order to 25 avoid confusion. It is evident as already indicated, that I also intend to use'my improved buckets and principle of bucketaction, both for compressing air or. other elastic fluid and for imparting velocity to them, by a reversal of the operation, and I wish it understood that this reversal of the operation is included in, the claims which I-ma-ke herein to the present invention.

It will be observed that the methods herein described as applicable to a turbine using an elastic fluid, is also applicable whenever and wherever the direction of flow of1an elastic fluid moving under a considerable ve- 40 locity. due toits m's vie-a, is to'be changed.

I intend to apply for a patentorpatents on its use in connection with other kindsof apparatus.

The method herein described is not claimed herein but will be'ma-de the subj ect of a separate application for patent.

W'hat I claim is:

1. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination wit-h an element having movable vane spaces which diminish in cross section in the direction of flow of the elastic fluid in their receiving portions and increase in .cross section in the direction of flow of the elasticfluid in their discharging portions, of an expansion nozzle cooperating therewith,- substantially as set forth.

2. Inan elastic fluid turbine, the combination with an element having movable vane spaces having a convergent receiving por tion, a divergent'discharging portion, and a connecting portion of larger cross-sectional area, of an expansion nozzle cooperating with such movable vane spaces, substantially as set forth.

' 3. In anelastic fluid turbine, an element having a movable or stationary vane space which receives and discharges the elastic fluid m dnferent.d1rect1ons, provided with a receiving portion whose cross-sectional area diminishes in the direction of flow, and an enlarged chambe' at the .point where the vane space changes its direction, substantially as set fortl.- J

i. In an 'elasticfluid turbine, an element having a movableor stationary vane passage which receives and discharges the elastic fluid in different directions, provided with a 'receiving portion whose cross-sectional area diminishes in tlIQICliI'GCtiOD. of'flow, a discharging portion whose cross-sectional area increases in the direction of flow, and an enlarged chamber connecting said portions, substantiallyas set forth. 7

5. In combinationwith two bucket wheels of the axial flow type, apassage for working fluid interposed between said wheels having its cross sectional area gradually decreasing and then. gradually increasing in the direction of flow; the inlet extremity of said passage being equal in radial width to the outlet of one wheel and the outlet extremity of said passage being equal in radial width to the inlet of the other wheel.

6. An elastic fluid turbine having a wheel provided with buckets, each of said buckets tapering toward the outlet, and an expansion nozzle arranged to deliver the elast-i fluid to the inlets of the buckets.

7. In an elastic-fluid turbine, an element having a vane space which hasan enlarged cross-sectional areaintermediate its receiving and discharging ends, substantially as set forth.

8. Inanelastic fluid turbine, an element having a movable vane space having an enlarged cross-sectional area intermediate its receiving and discharging ends, substantially as set forth.

9. In an elastic fluid turbine, an element having a movable vane space having its receiving and discharging ends arranged to receive and discharge the elastic fluid at forward and rearward angles respectively, such vane space having between its ends an enlarged chamber in which the 172.8 rim of the elastic fluid or a portionthereof is converted into pressure, substantially as set forth.

10. Inan elasticfluid turbine, an element having a movable vane space having its re receive and discharge thejelastic fluid at forward and rearward angles respectively, such vane space having between its ends an enlarged chamber in which the m's rin of the elastic fluidis wholly or largely converted intopressure, substantially as set forth.

ceiving and discharging ends arranged to 11. In an elastic fluid turbine, an element This specification signed and ,witnessed having a vane s acelreeeigiflgg and glischarg this 13th day of J any. 1898. in the elastic ui in i erent irections an ii having an enlarged chamber at the point CHARLES CURTIS v 5 where the vane space changes its direction Witnesses:

whereby a fall in velocity will be produced, LUoIUs C; RY'OE, substantially as set forth. V EUGENE CONRAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Paten s, Washington, D. C. 

